Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, Oct 13: Alleging the CBI for slow probe and attempts to dilute the case of missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed, his family members, along with around 200 students, human rights activists and social workers, protested outside the headquarters of the federal investigating agency here on Friday. More than four months after the Delhi High Court transferred the probe to CBI, no breakthrough has come in the case. The court had ordered CBI to take over the probe following failure of the Delhi Police to make any headway even six months after the case was registered.
Today’s protest demonstration was organized on the eve of the first anniversary of Najeeb’s mysterious disappearance. One year ago (15th Oct 2016), first-year postgraduate student Najeeb had mysteriously disappeared from the university hostel room less than 24 hours after an alleged scuffle with members of a Hindu-right student group ABVP – Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Najeeb’s mother Fatima Nafees, his brother Mujeeb and other family members were demanding speedy investigation in the case. They alleged that the premier probe agency has not even interrogated the accused.
Najeeb’s mother Fatima Nafees outside CBI headquarters in New Delhi on 13 Oct 2017.
Questioning over the CBI’s way of working in the case, Fatima Nafees said, “I hoped justice when court transferred the case to CBI. But I have been bearing for last 6 months that ‘What CBI is’! It never contacted me, I called them several times though. CBI never sent any IO (Investigating Officer) besides its lawyer in the court proceedings.
“What has it done in the case so far? If it is not able to find an ordinary student, how will it find a criminal?” she asked.
Appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi she said, “Modi ji, at least now you should make a comment. A wrong message is going to the world that Indian police is not able to find a student. This is shameful for you. I again appeal to PM Modi ji, Home Minister Rajnath Singh to comment so that CBI does something.”
Speaking to IndiaTomorrow.net Najeeb’s younger brother Mujeeb said, “CBI is not working the way it should ever since the case was transferred to it by the Delhi High Court. It has not interrogated the prime suspects yet. Since the suspects belong to ABVP that is associated to the ruling BJP, CBI seems to be under pressure. They want to dilute the case. It is shameless for CBI.”
He, however, is hopeful that the court will deliver justice to the family.
“Still we believe that the court will give us justice,” he said.
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Najeeb, 28, went missing from his Room No. 106 of Mahi Mandvi hostel of JNU on 15th October, 2016, just a day after an alleged scuffle with some students of the university – they were also members of ABVP. Eyewitness and some residents of the hostel alleged that during the scuffle on 14th Oct night, Najeeb was assaulted by a group of 15-20 students. He told her mother about the incident over phone that night and she instantly left Badaun for Delhi to see him. The last time she talked to him was in the morning of 15th Oct when she alighted from train at Anand Vihar railway station in Delhi. But when she reached his hostel room in the university about one hour later, he was not there. And about one year has since passed, he remains traceless.
Chronology of Event
14 Oct 2016: Scuffle took place between Najeeb and students. He was assaulted.
15 Oct 2016: Najeeb mysteriously disappeared from his hostel room.
16 Oct 2016: Delhi Police lodged a case of abduction on complaint of mother.
17 Oct 2016: Protests started by students of JNU inside and outside campus.
In the end of October, Delhi Police announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for anyone providing information to locate Najeeb. Award amount was gradually increased to Rs 5 lakh by the end of Nov. 2016.
20 Oct 2016: Delhi Police set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on the instruction of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
11Nov 2016: Delhi Police transferred the case to its Crime Branch.
25 Nov 2016: Mother Fatima Nafees filed a Habeas corpus in Delhi High Court.
16 May 2017: The Delhi High Court asked CBI to probe the case as Delhi police could not get any breakthrough even after six months.
3 June 2017: CBI filed an FIR for “kidnapping with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine” Najeeb.
